Akron and Bowie split a doubleheader Thursday night, as the Aeros fell 3-0 in the opener before rebounding to win 3-2 in the nightcap. Akron improved to 52-27 after the game two triumph, while the Baysox are 44-36.

One bad inning doomed the Aeros in game one, as starter Hector Rondon mowed down the Baysox in order in the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth. Jonathan Tucker opened the inning with a single to center, and advanced to second on a tapper back to the mound by Robert Valido. Rondon then got ahead in the count 1-2 on former Aero Eric Crozier before surrendering an RBI triple to put Bowie ahead 1-0. Mike Costanzo followed with a run-scoring double over Nick Weglarz’s head in left field on the next pitch to make it 2-0, and Miguel Abreu hammered an RBI double of his own to left-center for the third run of the inning.

That would be plenty for Sox starter Brian Matusz, as the left-hander improved to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 0.49 in the complete game shutout. Rondon (7-5) went the distance as well and turned in a quality start in the losing effort, allowing three runs and four hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out eight, and allowed only one base runner and no hits in the five innings outside of the fourth. Jared Goedert was the only Aero to reach base more than once in the opener, doubling in the second inning before walking in the fifth.

It was the Aeros who took advantage of one big inning in game two, as Carlos Santana belted a three-run homer down the right field line in the top of the fifth to account for the difference. It was Santana’s 12th of the year and gave him 50 RBI on the season while also erasing a 1-0 Bowie advantage. The Baysox cut the margin to 3-2 on Adam Donachie’s two-out RBI single in the sixth, but Vinnie Pestano slammed the door from there to preserve the win.

Steven Wright (6-0) stayed perfect with the win in relief, blanking Bowie for 2.1 innings and allowing just two hits. Fredy Deza (3-3) started and took the loss, surrendering three runs and six hits in 4.2 innings. Pestano’s save was his league-leading 22nd of the season.

The finale of this five-game series is set for 6:05 p.m. Friday, as Josh Tomlin (8-4, 4.12 ERA) will go for the Aeros and Tim Bascom (2-1, 3.75 ERA) counters for the Baysox. The game broadcast begins at 5:50 p.m. on SportsRadio 1350 AM and online at www.akronaeros.com. For more information, please call the Aeros at (330) 253-5151.